Alious Everton Defender Admits He Considered Exit Before Signing New Contract Extension
Everton’s start to the campaign has sparked mixed feelings among supporters, with an unbeaten home record at the Hill Dickinson Stadium tempered by a frustrating 1-0 league defeat to Leeds United and an early Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Wolves. Fans criticised David Moyes’ team selection in that cup tie, calling for more ambition.
One bright spot, however, has been the form of centre-back Michael Keane. Stepping in for the injured Jarrad Branthwaite, the 31-year-old has slotted seamlessly into the backline, prompting the club to hand him a one-year extension to safeguard their defensive depth.
Yet Keane has now revealed that he came close to leaving Merseyside before committing his future. Speaking to Everton’s official website, he admitted he had options elsewhere when his previous contract expired after limited playing time last season.
“Obviously, my contract had run down and I’d not played much football, so I definitely considered playing somewhere else. I did have offers,” Keane said. “But then the manager spoke to me about wanting to get something sorted. After thinking it over, I felt I still had a lot to give in the Premier League. Having been here eight years, it just felt right to stay.”
Since joining from Burnley in 2017, Keane has racked up 237 appearances and 16 goals, working under eight different permanent managers. His performances this season have created a welcome but tricky dilemma for Moyes as Branthwaite nears full fitness.
Branthwaite and James Tarkowski forged one of the league’s most reliable partnerships last year, helping Everton post the third-best clean sheet record with eight shutouts. On paper, restoring that pairing seems logical—but Keane’s resurgence could make benching him a costly decision.
For Moyes, it’s a problem he may be glad to have: defensive depth, competition for places, and a player who only recently considered leaving now eager to prove his worth.
Alious
